Meditation is often pictured as this retreat from the stressful world. It’s where you can enjoy your happy place, be relaxed, and not need to worry about work. I don’t know about you, but it is getting more difficult to find that happy place these days with how busy life can be.

This is especially true when it comes to the workplace. People are feeling tired, overwhelmed, and anxious all too often when completing their professional duties. More families are living paycheck to paycheck these days. It leads to burnout, giving up, or complete daily exhaustion.

You can use all of the nutritional programs and gym memberships in corporate wellness all you want. Until the root cause of stress is discovered and treated, however, stress is going to continue leaving you in a mess. Now here’s the best part: you don’t need to wait until you’re feeling stressed out to meditate.

Could meditation help you? Here are a few ways meditation can help all of us decompress after a tough day.

#1. It can handle immediate stress. I’ve often found that acute stress is one of the most difficult aspects of the workplace environment these days. Immediate stress might come from your boss, a co-worker, a client, a customer… no one is immune from acute stress. With regular meditation, you’ll be able to feel more energetic and be less emotionally exhausted from each incident, allowing you to feel more like yourself at the end of the day.

#2. It can be practiced everywhere. You don’t need a little sand garden with a rake to meditate. Believe it or not, you don’t even need to have a regular meditation spot. I try to take one of my breaks every day at work and use it to meditate. I’ll find a quiet room at work, even if it’s the bathroom, and begin some deep breathing exercises. Some days I can use both 15-minute breaks at work. Sometimes I need to use my lunch break. Either way, it helps to get me through each day a lot better.

#3. It keeps you in the moment. Ever clock out at the end of the work day and thought, “Wow! This day flew by so quickly!” That’s what I call the “Autopilot Moment.” Our jobs can become so routine that we zone out and just do what we need to do to earn a paycheck. By incorporating meditation into the daily routine, you can stay in the moment more often, allowing you to be more productive and detailed with your work.

#4. It reduces the amount of sick leave that gets taken. Meditation supports good health, which means you can use your sick leave for more than just mental health holidays.

#5. It can support healthy living habits. One of the ways a lot of people cope with high levels of stress is through eating. Weight gain from stressful eating at work leads to insomnia, which leads to caffeine consumption, which leads to even less sleep… it’s a very destructive cycle. Meditation, over time, can reverse that cycle.

Meditation isn’t a “cure-all” for every workplace-related stressful situation, but it’s daily practice can help you do more than make it through your day. Incorporate it into your schedule for the next week or two and you’ll be able to see if it can make a difference for you.

Have you started a new routine that includes meditation at work? I’d love to hear what has happened since you started meditating!

Stress seems to be everywhere these days. Just look at the recent US Presidential inauguration. There are people stressed out about Donald Trump winning. There are people stressed out because they feel like President Trump isn’t being given a fair chance. There are even people who are stressed out because so many people are stressed out.

I can vouch that moments of stress can feel terrible. Stress, however, is not the same as burning out.

So why do some people have the ability to stay busy and thrive in stress without burning out, while others have to stop what they’re doing to stay healthy? The secret, it seems, is in how each person copes with stress.

There’s a stress reduction method that I like to use when I feel the exhaustion, mental fatigue, and other symptoms that indicate burnout is about to arrive. It’s been adapted from TCI’s “I ESCAPE” model.

I – Isolate from the situation. I take myself out of the situation that is causing me to not be able to implement a coping skill. By removing myself from the stressful triggers, it becomes easier to implement a coping skill that is meaningful (such as working in my art journal) instead of destructive (such as taking advantage of the bottle of scotch that’s next to my computer).

E – Examine feelings. Thoughts lead to feelings. This means thoughts which can trigger stress can often lead to negative feelings, such as anger. I always need to look at how I’m feeling so that I can implement a correct coping strategy. It also helps to take a few deep breaths at this point so that the stress or negative feelings are unable to spiral out of control.

S – Summarize the incident. There is a specific reason why I begin to feel stressed out to the point of being overwhelmed. In this step, I look back at what just happened to determine what happened so I know why the feelings of burnout are trying to show up.

C – Connect it. Feelings lead to behaviors. Behaviors lead to actions. By connecting the dots from start to finish, I get to know myself better because I can learn how I tend to react to stressful stimuli. With this knowledge, I can then begin being proactive against future incidents that could lead to burnout.

A – Alternative actions. Instead of feeling stressed out, I look for alternative feelings that may also be present. If I can find positive feelings and then focus on those, it becomes much easier to stay productive.

P – Practice every day. Learning how to identify these positive feelings is only the first step in the process toward defeating burnout for good. I practice identifying these feelings every day during my time in meditation. That way, if something difficult occurs during my day, my mind can react on instinct and pull out the information that I need to know.

E – Enter back into your routine. Once I’ve been able to identify thoughts, feelings, triggers, and everything else that occurs before, during, and after a stressful incident, it becomes possible to reevaluate my personal perspective. I can see where I reacted appropriately and where, perhaps, my reactions were inappropriate. Then I can get back into my routine, confident in my knowledge of myself.

Coping with the feelings of stress is how we avoid burning out. If you can implement an effective coping strategy for the times when you encounter stress, you’ll be able to stay busy without worrying about burnout.

Ever feel like your career is moving at a faster pace than you ever imagined? I know I’ve felt that way numerous times, especially in the last few years.

We’re inundated with information like never before. This makes goal-setting an essential skill that we must all have if we’re going to find the success we want.

Or is it?

Setting a meaningful goal to work toward can be important, but it can also lead us into two specific traps that can do more harm than good.

It can cause us to be less adaptable to changing circumstances because we are so fixated on the meaningful goal we have set for ourselves.

It can cause us to attempt too many tasks at once because we feel guilt, shame, or remorse for not being able to meet a meaningful goal within a specific period of time.

And I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of working hard at hardly being productive. It’s time to make a change. That’s why I say that goals are nice, but let’s think twice before setting a new one this year.

Why Flexibility Is More Important Than a Meaningful Goal

Thinking about the future of your career is important. Don’t get me wrong here. Planning out a path of success should never be overlooked. It’s how we chart our course and then navigate toward our destination that I’m proposing we change.

When many professionals set goals for themselves, they are long-term in nature.

“In the next 12 months, I want to accomplish…”

“Five years from now, my goal is to be…”

“I’m trying to save $100 per month so I can retire in 20 years.”

These long-term goals are nice, but they are also very rigid and unforgiving. You must follow a prescribed course of action in order to achieve the goal. If a roadblock is found or there are obstacles that come up, you have no method of finding a detour around the issue because you’re locked into this one path.

So instead of all these long-term resolutions, consider short-term goals instead. Let’s transform those three statements above so you can see what I mean.

“This week I will work toward accomplishing…”

“Five years from now, I will be satisfied with my career if any of these events occur.”

“I’m trying to save $100 this month for retirement.”

By Staying in the Present Moment, You Can Accomplish More

Ever feel exhausted before you even make it to work? Wonder what happened to your life as you sit in your office? Dream of getting out of a cubicle?

When you have several long-term goals that you’re attempting to achieve, then you spread yourself too thin. There’s no way to focus on what needs to happen today because you’re so focused on what tomorrow will bring.

So let’s forget about tomorrow. Stay in the present moment instead and I guarantee that the stress or even regret you feel about your long-term goals will begin to reduce.

There will always be competitive priorities that we must face. By focusing on what needs to be done right now, we can let tomorrow worry about itself.

How do you set professional goals for yourself? Is there a method of goal-setting that you have found to be particularly effective?

How many emails do you send in a day? I counted the other day and figured out I send out just over 100. That’s actually lower than the average employee, who sends out over 120 emails.

How many meetings do you attend per month? Thankfully, most of my meetings are at convenient times these days and for specific reasons. For the average employee, however, there are 60+ meetings per month to attend and many of them may be mostly worthless.

In many ways, our jobs can feel like they control us. It’s time to take that control back. We can do this through the strategic thinking process. Here are the methods I use to make sure my career stays on the right track.

#1. Take time for yourself and your career every day. When life gets busy, it becomes easy to stop thinking. This may be fine for a day or two, but when it occurs for a month or two, it affects the way you think. Instead of pursuing a passion, you begin to pursue a paycheck. This is why I always make at least 15 minutes in my schedule, no matter how busy the day may be, to strategically think. I call it “career meditation.” This allows me to examine the big picture, prepare for meetings, or come up with a new idea that could change everything.

#2. Make sure you have planned the next step. It can be a lot of fun to be spontaneous when taking a vacation. Your career should not be spontaneous. I’ve found that if each career step is planned out and anticipated, it becomes much easier to find the success that is desired. Some pathways toward success may seem hidden. Some steps that need to be taken can be very difficult to take. Look at where you want to be in the next 3-5 years. Then look at what you need to make happen to reach the end of the journey. This is how you plan the next step.

#3. Invest your time into meaningful work. When there are 120+ emails per day to send, it can be easy to feel like you’ve been productive. Trust me. Sending emails is not meaningful work. It just keeps you busy. If you want your career to reach the goals you’ve set for yourself, it is necessary to dig deep and do the work that no one else wants to do. This will likely give you a nickname, like being a “go-getter” or the “VP’s Pet.” Ignore that stuff and do what you need to do. Your co-workers come up with unflattering names because they’ve become stuck on their own path and we all know that misery loves company.

#4. Keep building up your reputation. Here’s an uncomfortable truth: within any organization, the best employees are almost always taken for granted. This is why external hires often make 20% or more than internal promotions. In order to counter this effect, it becomes important to keep reminding your supervisors and executive team of your accomplishments. Show them how you stand out. Take time to support your career during your off-hours here and there as well to prove your commitment and this will help you to build a solid reputation.

Strategic thinking might seem like a waste of time on some days, but it never is. I’ve found that with just 15 minutes set aside every day to think about my career and final goals, it becomes much easier to do more than just shoot for the stars.

Ever have one of those days when stress seems to be everywhere? From the moment your feet hit the floor after getting out of bed, the universe seems to have it out for you.

It is important to remember one thing on days like that: stress is not the same as burnout. We all have bad days. Burnout occurs when you are exhausted from day after day of pressure, stress, and worry about your personal or professional responsibilities – or both.

To cope with this stress, I’ve been known to have a drink or two. Others might choose to eat comfort foods, find relief through illicit drugs, or even push themselves harder to get stuff done. When I start to feel exhausted from it all and believe burnout is approaching, these are the steps I take to make sure life can continue on as normal.

#1. Make sure you are not your own trigger.

Pressure creates anxiety. Anxiety creates stress. Stress triggers a reaction. If you’re putting pressure on yourself, then you’re creating your own triggers. I’m the type of person who demands personal perfection in everything, so I understand what it’s like to put pressure on oneself. If you can stop doing this, you’ll eliminate a lot of the triggers that can lead you on a path toward burnout.

#2. Embrace your limitations.

You don’t have to do everything on your own. If you’re in a leadership role, then inspire others to be great. Don’t take over their work in addition to your own. And, if the demands placed on you are greater than your ability to accomplish them, admit that right away. Otherwise you’ll always be swimming upstream and be miserable just about every day.

#3. Take a 5-minute meditation break.

This has helped me immensely. When my chest feels tight and my brain wants to shut down because of stress, I disengage. Just 5 minutes of deep breathing, meditation, or the use of a relaxation technique can help to manage acute stress very effectively.

#4. Look at the situation through honest eyes.

Sometimes stress happens because we’re looking at a problem in a completely upside-down way. Ever make a problem more complicated? I’ve been known to do that. So take off the rose-colored glasses that lead to stress and be completely honest with yourself. Look at the big picture instead of the small picture. Or vice-versa. It might not make your stress go away, but good stress won’t lead to burnout one day, while bad stress typically does.

This is how many stressful incidents occur. I’ve found that by making a conscious effort to step into the shoes of the other person, I can often de-escalate a conflict before it turns into a situation that can lead to burnout. You may not agree with that person, but if you understand their approach, it becomes easier to communicate with that person.

Through the use of our emotional intelligence, we can recognize stress triggers, limit burnout, and keep going. Those who have been able to do this are able to continue pressing forward when others may give up. How do you cope with stress and burnout to keep doing what you do?

When you’re having a bad day at work, it seems to affect everything in your life. Add in some holiday stress, some in-law drama, and it becomes tempting to pull the covers over your head and call it a day at 7am.

I know that the magic of the holidays often feels lost with the stresses that are around us. These stresses are magnified at work, which makes every trigger seem even stronger. The good news is that there are ways for you to transform your workplace from the inside out. I’ve got 5 simple steps for you to follow.

Step #1: It’s Not About You

I know stuff at work can be tough. It seems like people are sometimes out to get you. Here’s the problem: other people feel like you are out to get them. So it becomes important to remember that the stress that is happening isn’t directed at you personally.

It’s a reflection of what everyone else is experiencing.

Acknowledge your feelings. Be aware of the moments that are making you feel stressed out and avoid them if you can. Implement a coping skill if necessary. And if the feelings seem like they could be related to depression, get some professional help.

Step #2: Take a Deep Breath

Breathing really can make a big difference when you’re having a bad day. I like to breathe in for a 4-count, then breathe out for a 4-count, and do this a handful of times. On the last breath, I breathe in as deep as I can, then I let it go as slowly as possible. Try to do the deep breathing exercises at least once per hour.

It has a remarkable effect on the nervous system. You will feel calmer and ready to become productive once again.

Step #3: Set Meaningful Priorities

I sometimes get these big projects, but they’re due in 5-6 weeks. That doesn’t mean I won’t stop stressing out about it. The stress sometimes hits as soon as the assignment comes through. What I’ve learned to start doing is setting clear priorities for myself.

In other words, take things one day at a time. Focus on what needs to be done today. The present has enough worries of its own. The future can wait for tomorrow.

Step #4: Make an Effort to Be Compassionate

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays – or even a long day at work – the focus tends to go inward. I know in those times I feel like I just need to take care of me. When you can put the focus outward and be compassionate toward others, you’ll find that the response often comes back the same way.

I’ve found this is also a great way to stop arguments with co-workers as well.

Step #5: Take Care of Yourself

You need to recharge your batteries from time to time. Tension will drain your energy like crazy. So spend some time decompressing. Go take a walk. Grab some lunch. Leave your desk or cubicle and do anything other than work. That way whatever stress is going on can be left alone for a few minutes.

We all have bad days come our way, but it doesn’t have to say that way. By transforming how you look at each moment with these 5 steps, you can begin to change everything from the inside out.

How do you handle stressful situations? What coping skills have worked wonders for you?